New facilities are planned at a flagship Girl Guide camp in Cheshire.

An application has been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council to replace three buildings at the Pettypool campsite and activity centre with brand new facilities.

The centre on Pool Lane in Cuddington is located in 17 acres of woodland and has been run by Girlguiding UK for more than 35 years. It offers a variety of activities such as camping and trail walks.

Girlguiding is the largest youth organisation for girls in the UK and its Cheshire Forest branch is the largest in the North West, covering north Cheshire, Warrington and Halton, with Pettypool serving as its base.

The site is run by a volunteers and is mainly used by girl guides, but bookings are accepted from other recognised organisations.

Planning documents said that over the years buildings have been added to the site, including a residential lodge, two toilet blocks, a large outdoor shelter, a rainbow ‘ark’ for shelter in wet weather and a depot to provide uniform and other official items.

The planned work includes demolition of the toilet blocks, warden office, shop and lodge to be replaced with a new lodge, kitchen, shop, toilet and shower block.

A design and access statement submitted in support of the scheme, said: "The proposal aims to modernise the existing site facilities; there is no intention to increase capacity at the site.

"The existing buildings to be replaced are dilapidated and are becoming outdated for contemporary use; they require high maintenance and repair and do not satisfy current accessibility standards."

It added: "The replacement accommodation aims to provide accessible, energy efficient low carbon facilities."

The documents said the current lodge building dates back to 1987 and was built to provide sleeping quarters for 24 girls and leaders and includes a kitchen and dining room.

After more land was made available, the original lodge was extended to create a larger kitchen and dining area as well as a shower room and leader’s sitting room, a brick-built office was also added.

But the application said the building currently does not conform to the Equality Act and that its prefabricated nature makes it inefficient and expensive to heat, adding that it also suffers from condensation.

The application by Girlguiding Cheshire Forest added: "All areas of the proposed replacement buildings will be accessible to all users, regardless of ability/mobility.

"The (new) building embraces the principles of full accessibility in and around the building. There will be level access to all entrances of the building including the main entrance for the replacement lodge."

The plans can be viewed on the council's online planning portal under the reference number: 24/02653/FUL.